Desertification Definition and Meaning
In the first place, we have to state that the term desertification that we are now going to analyze in greater depth has its etymological origin in Latin. Specifically, it derives from the verb “deserere”, which can be translated as “forget” or “abandon”.
Desertification is the process and consequences of the action of desertification. This verb, according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), is synonymous with desertification: turning a fertile territory into a desert land. See Abbreviation Finder for acronyms related to Desertification.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that desertification is not the same as desertification. Desertification is understood as an evolution of nature itself , which transforms the characteristics of the environment of a region and makes the territory in question become a desert. Desertification, on the other hand, is linked to the damage that occurs on fertile land and is usually linked to human behavior.
Among the reasons that can cause desertification, there are various reasons typical of biology, geology and even astronomy. In any case, the phenomenon occurs without the direct participation of the human being.
Among the many causes that give rise to the phenomenon of desertification are the following:
- The torrential rains, which drag away everything that would be the vegetal cover of a territory.
- Drought, which brings with it not only a hydric imbalance but also significant damage in terms of production systems on the land.
- Erosion, which destroys the soil and other elements of nature such as rocks.
It can be said, therefore, that desertification and desertification are phenomena that transform productive land into deserts. Its difference is that, in the first case, the causes are natural, while in the second, the phenomenon is produced by the activity of people.
Desertification is currently considered one of the environmental phenomena that most worries the world. Hence, the different authorities on the matter throughout the planet are continually analyzing it and making proposals to be able to deal with it effectively.
In this sense, one of the organizations that works the most in this regard is the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. It was created in the mid-1990s and is made up of approximately 180 countries.
Among the nations that are most affected by problems like the one at hand are those that shape Africa. However, there are also other corners of Spain or South America that suffer from those, who seem not to be paralyzed at any time.
Desertification can be seen in various parts of the world, where it causes ecological but also economic and social problems as people lose their means of subsistence. The process begins with the degradation of the land and, if it is not stopped in time, it can lead to irreparable desertification without the possibility of recovery for the land.